Sporting Kansas City opens its quest for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup with a qualifier in College Station, Texas, against the Houston Dynamo.

Thanks to KC's 10th place finish in 2010, it will have to go through the qualifying phase, which Kansas City has never done. In three previous Open Cup qualifying games, Sporting has lost (twice to Colorado, once to Real Salt Lake).

Kansas City is still struggling with injury issues. Defenders Chance Myers and Julio Cesar, midfielders Graham Zusi and Stephane Auvray, and forward Ryan Smith will all miss the game with injury. Regular goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen is not injured, but didn't travel with the team.

The Basics

Kickoff is at 7 p.m. at Aggie Soccer Stadium in College Station, Texas.

Is it on TV?

There will be no TV for this game. But, you can watching the game streaming live (with a live chat) at SportingKC.com.

Mini-Scouting Report

The key missing players in Orange are Ching and Taylor ... Houston are the lone Eastern Conference team yet to win a game in Major League Soccer this year, having drawn twice and lost once ... Goalkeeper Tally Hall has been in great form for Houston this year, having been a key figure in both draws .. I have no idea what sort of team Houston will assemble, with a game against Vancouver awaiting them on Sunday.